Waking up and getting started
Children's sermon
Object:
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers. (v. 11)
Object: an alarm clock
Good morning, boys and girls. What makes you wake up in the morning? Do you wake up when the sun comes up? (let them answer) Do your parents wake you up? (let them answer)
Most of you get up when your parents wake you up. But what do you think makes them wake up? (let them answer) Most of your parents use an alarm clock, like this one. (let the alarm ring)
When that alarm rings, it makes people open their eyes and reminds them to get up and start the day. Of course they still have to brush their teeth, comb their hair, and get dressed, but the day starts when the alarm rings and their eyes first open.
The reason we're talking about waking up and getting started is because this is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is the beginning of a new church year and a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Do you know when we celebrate the birth of Jesus? (let them answer) That's right, at Christmas. But before Christmas we have four weeks of Advent to help us get started. This is the time to talk about preparing ourselves for when Jesus will return to Earth and welcome us into his kingdom.
Did you know that Jesus will be coming back? (let them answer) The Bible teaches us that, at the right time, Jesus will return to Earth. Only God knows when that time will be. We do know that Jesus is closer to returning now than he was 1,000 years ago or even yesterday. Each morning when we wake up, Jesus is closer to returning than he was the day before.
Your birthday comes once a year. Once you have a birthday, it takes another 365 days before you can have another one. But one month later it's only 335 days away and, pretty soon, it's only a week away. The same thing is true about Christmas. Each year it takes another 365 days before you can celebrate Christmas again. But today it's only four weeks, or 28 days, until we will celebrate Jesus' birthday.
Today is the first day of Advent, so we begin to think about Jesus returning and sharing his kingdom with us on Earth. After that, we will get ready for the day when everyone who worships Jesus will return with him to heaven and the new kingdom of God.
The next time you hear an alarm clock or the voice of your mom or dad waking you up to start a new day, you can think about getting ready for the return of Jesus and the beginning of a new life with him.
Object: an alarm clock
Good morning, boys and girls. What makes you wake up in the morning? Do you wake up when the sun comes up? (let them answer) Do your parents wake you up? (let them answer)
Most of you get up when your parents wake you up. But what do you think makes them wake up? (let them answer) Most of your parents use an alarm clock, like this one. (let the alarm ring)
When that alarm rings, it makes people open their eyes and reminds them to get up and start the day. Of course they still have to brush their teeth, comb their hair, and get dressed, but the day starts when the alarm rings and their eyes first open.
The reason we're talking about waking up and getting started is because this is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is the beginning of a new church year and a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Do you know when we celebrate the birth of Jesus? (let them answer) That's right, at Christmas. But before Christmas we have four weeks of Advent to help us get started. This is the time to talk about preparing ourselves for when Jesus will return to Earth and welcome us into his kingdom.
Did you know that Jesus will be coming back? (let them answer) The Bible teaches us that, at the right time, Jesus will return to Earth. Only God knows when that time will be. We do know that Jesus is closer to returning now than he was 1,000 years ago or even yesterday. Each morning when we wake up, Jesus is closer to returning than he was the day before.
Your birthday comes once a year. Once you have a birthday, it takes another 365 days before you can have another one. But one month later it's only 335 days away and, pretty soon, it's only a week away. The same thing is true about Christmas. Each year it takes another 365 days before you can celebrate Christmas again. But today it's only four weeks, or 28 days, until we will celebrate Jesus' birthday.
Today is the first day of Advent, so we begin to think about Jesus returning and sharing his kingdom with us on Earth. After that, we will get ready for the day when everyone who worships Jesus will return with him to heaven and the new kingdom of God.
The next time you hear an alarm clock or the voice of your mom or dad waking you up to start a new day, you can think about getting ready for the return of Jesus and the beginning of a new life with him.
